The latest on California politics and government

May 10, 2013

Democrats are lining up for the race in Assembly District 4 next year, when termed-out Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada leaves office.

Davis Mayor Joe Krovoza, right, announced Friday morning that he intends to run in the Democrat-dominated district, joining Lake County Supervisor Anthony Farrington and Napa County Planning Commissioner Matt Pope in the race. Davis City Councilman Dan Wolk, son of Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, confirmed Friday that he will be announcing his candidacy in the coming weeks.

Assembly District 4 includes Napa and Lake Counties and parts of Sonoma, Solano, Colusa and Yolo counties. Sixty percent of voters in the newly redrawn district reside in Napa and Yolo counties. Women Democrats from Davis, including Lois Wolk, have represented Davis in the Assembly for two decades.

Krovoza, 50, has been mayor of Davis since 2011. He handles external relations for the UC Davis' Institute of Transportation Studies and Energy Efficiency Center.

Krovoza said he hopes to move academic ideas into good government.

"California must tap the intellectual capital of the UC system for the benefit of all people," Krovoza said. "As mayor, I have been a champion for that and effective in doing that."

Farrington, 43, is an attorney who has managed the state water rights program for the Regional Council of Rural Counties. Farrington graduated from UC Davis and initially was a classroom teacher in Lake County.

Wolk, 35, is an attorney who grew up in Davis, before attending Stanford and law school at UC Berkeley. Wolk is currently deputy county counsel for Solano County.

"I am inspired by the strong support and encouragement I have already received throughout the district and I look forward to a great campaign," Wolk said in a statement to The Bee.

Pope is the district representative for Sen. Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa and is the former president of Democrats of Napa Valley.